May 15, 2018 was a special day for Industries big and small in Bengaluru when they interacted face to face with officers from the Indian Navy at a 'Naval Aviation – Industry Interaction' organized by the Naval Liaison Cell, in Bengaluru. More than 100 firms participated in the meeting, whose objectives were to familiarize the Industry with the naval organization, Procedures, policies and requirements, Aviation components required by the Naval Aviation wing were also displayed for the benefit of the visitors. The Navy officials, apart from answering questions from industrialists, also provided the details of indigenisation cells of Navy to take matters forward.

Rear Admiral VM Doss, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel) of the Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, who presided, remarked "most defence components' needs are met by various foreign companies. Now, under PM's 'Make in India' initiative, the defence forces have eased the procedures for our industrialists to supply their products and the scope is huge. Once they start manufacturing and supplying components to the defence forces, they will be able to export them also. Sessions like this will boost the confidence of industrialist, to become suppliers to the defence forces". On the potential for supplying to Navy he said, in another 10 years, the number of warships and aircraft will increase leading to more requirement of components. "we have taken multiple steps towards indigenization. A Naval Aviation Indigenisation road map has also been prepared for next 5 years to indigenize over 500 components (Critical and Non-Critical)", he said. The industry can be involved in up-gradation, repair work or reverse engineering. There are nine PSUs, 39 ordinance factories, 52 R&D organizations to which the industries can supply. Though the initial value is less, the industries can develop to become global suppliers.

The Meeting was attended by Industrial Heads from FICCI, MSME, and Peenya Industries. During the Interaction, FICCI Chairman Shri Shekar Viswanathan said, "India has a potential to emerge as a global platform for defence research and manufacturing & Software development which would strengthen our defence capabilities spur industrial development in our country. He also added that the support of private sector to Indian Navy towards Indigenisation Efforts". Director MSME Shri B N Sudhakara remarked that, "Initiation taken to create a platform among industries will go in a long way to forge partnership with Indian Navy and MSME to establish greater vendor development". President Peenya Industries Association Shri Malayadhri Reddy M stated that, "A regular meet with industries will pave a way for greater indigenization for defence production". The interaction was also attended by the Heads of Inspection and Quality organisations namely CEMILAC, RCMA (H) RCMA (E) & ORDAQA.

The top brass of the Indian Navy and captains of the industry from Bangalore region came together on a common platform to exchange ideas on realising the Indigenisation needs of India's future Navy towards meeting the Government of India's vision of 'Make in India'.